Airplane Balance Help
 

I have recently completed one of the Skyshark Fantasy kits. I am ready to do the maiden flight, but I am concerned about the balance of this plane. I have balanced it per the instructions 5.0 inches aft of the wing leading edge.

I was told that this appears to be too far back. The balance point is now 1 inch aft of the wing spar. Also, I have used a balace calculator that I found on a website. The balance calculator has determined that the plane is now at 35% MAC. Most planes are to be balanced at 25 - 30% MAC.

Should I leave the model balanced per the instructions, or should I let common sense prevail and move the balance point within the 25 - 30% range? Any comments would be much appreciated.

RE: Airplane Balance Help
 

I would have to agree with the too far back theory. Most planes typically balance out on the spar or in that neighbohood. I am not familaiar with the SkyShark, so it is possible that the balalnce point is where they say, however you might want to drop a dime and call them to confirm it. Other than that I would go with the move it forward as you mentioned as a nose heavy plane will fly and then it can be adjusted to suit your needs. Good Luck, Dave

RE: Airplane Balance Help
 

The Fantasy manual is correct - the different CG is due to the plane's design. You may have to add a little tail weight if you used a large engine.

Mike Grey
Skyshark R/C

RE: Airplane Balance Help
 

w0mbat,

Is the CG as stated in the manual a good starting point or should I start forward of that and work back to it?

Thanks

RE: Airplane Balance Help
 

The CG should be right on!

RE: Airplane Balance Help
 

Hi wOmbat,

Do you know what kind of critter a Wombat is??? Aussies who gain the wombat nick name do so because they share similar habits " of eating roots, shoots and leaves".:D Redback et al control yourselves.

I leave the rest to your imagination. However I'm intrigued as to how an American choose a wombat as their user name? In a colission with a car the wombat usually is often mobile whils't the car is smashed and undriveable. They are large, incredibly tough and >>>>>>>>>>


Cheers,

Colin